photographer: Yossi Zamir

The Knesset approved the establishment of two committees to investigate NGOs operating in Israel. Likud Danny Danon’s committee would examine “the involvement of foreign bodies and states in funding activities against the state and attempting to acquire its land,” and Yisrael Beiteinu MK Faina Kirschenbaum’s would probe “overseas funds and states funding Israeli organizations that participate in the delegitimization of IDF soldiers.”

The committee discussed appointments to the nine proposed slots to be filled on each committee of inquiry – two are allotted to Likud, two for Kadima, one shared by the National Union, Habayit Hayehudi and United Torah Judaism, one shared by Labor and Meretz, one for Israel Beiteinu, one for Shas, and one representing the three Arab parties, with the last likely to be filled on one of the committees by MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) at Tibi’s behest.

Nevertheless, after almost three hours of heated debate, the committee postponed the vote on the probes’ mandates and members until Wednesday morning.

Earlier in the day, the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee discussed a bill that would force NGOs to disclose, on a quarterly basis, any contributions received from foreign government entities.

The bill, advanced by MKs from Likud, Israel Beiteinu and the National Union as well as Kadima MK Otniel Schneller, proposes that NGOs be required to report on the source and size of the contribution as well as the specific purpose for which the money is dedicated. The bill would also require that any print campaigns that are funded by foreign governments display the source of the campaign’s funding.

The bill was sharply criticized by left-wing MKs, who claimed its sole purpose was to single out and delegitimize left-wing organizations that were critical of government policies.

Ronen Shuval, CEO of Im Tirtzu – The Second Zionist Revolution, a student organization closely associated with the push to examine the funding of left-wing NGOs, said there is a concrete difference between money received from foreign governments and those received from foreign individuals, because the former undermined Israeli democracy.

“We are not asking anybody to board a ship to Gaza or to badmouth IDF soldiers. All we’re asking for is transparency,” Shuval said. “We think that this bill is too watered down but that it’s a good start.”

(jpost)